Bermanzi Trail

About Bermanzi Trail

Start: Bermanzi Mountain Retreat
Finish: Bermanzi Mountain Retreat
Duration: anything from 4km – 20km
Fitness: moderately difficult
Our tip: a self guided, self-catering trail

Bermanzi - the mountain where the water is – is a hike that takes place on the edge of the escarpment between Machadodorp, Waterval-Boven and Badplaas in the northern part of the Drakensberg.

The trails' (for there are a series of them) focus on the gorge that leads up to Mpumalanga's second highest waterfall, the Bankspruit Waterfall (also known as Bride's Leap or Uitkoms Waterfall), terrain that includes mountain ravines, indigenous forests, and rock pools.

Up to three day back-to-base hikes, with routes that vary between 4km and 12km, can be combined to cater for any hiking capacity. A couple of backpack overnight hikes are also available.

The Bermanzi two-day Back to Base Trail is 12km on day one, followed by either a 4km or an 8km series of interlinking trails to make up the hike on day two.

Oom Paul's two-day backpackers Trail is in collaboration with another of the Num-Num Trail's partners – Five Assegaais Estate. The 20 km circular route (10.5km and 10km), which is moderately difficult, starts at Bermanzi and overnights at God's Window camp at Five Assegaais.

Sightings of bushbuck, kudu and mountain reedbuck, numerous birds, giant kierpersol and yellowwood trees, the beautiful views over the Komati Valley, and the numerous chances to cool off in river stream pools are highlights of the trails.